BY-LAWS 



OF 



THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI 

IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA. 



ADOPTED AT A 

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE SOCIETY 

HELD IS 

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, 

December 15, 1905. 



h'oTK.— At uie above meeting there were present twenty-five members in person and by 
proxy, which is the largest meeting held by the Virginia Cincinnati Society for a period of 
more than one hundred years. 



BY-LAWS 

OF THE 

Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia. 

ADOPTED AT RICHMOND, VA., 
December 15, 1905. 



ARTICLE I. 

OFFICERS. 

Section i. The ofiBcers of this Society shall be a President, a Vice- 
President, a Secretar5', a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer, all of whom 
shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting on the 4th of July in each 
year and shall hold office for one year or until their successors are elected 
and qualify. Each oflBce shall be held by a separate member of the Society 
and no two of the above offices shall ever be held by one member. 

Section 2. The Society may elect a Chaplain from among its members 

at each annual meeting on July 4th. It may also at such times elect an 

assistant to the Secretary. 

f 

ARTICLE II. 

ANNUAL STATED AND SPECIAL MEETINGS. 

Section i. The annual meeting of the Society shall be held on the 
4th day of July, and a stated meeting on the loth of May (the anniversary 
of the Society and to be termed " Cincinnati Day ") in each year. Should 
either of these days fall on a Sunday, the meeting shall be held on the 
following day. 

Section 2. Special meetings shall be called by the President or by 
direction of the Standing Committee or upon the request in writing of five 
(5) members of the Society. At such special meetings no business shall be 
transacted except such as shall be specified in the notice therefor. 

Section 3. At least fifteen (15) days' notice of time and place of all 
meetings of the Society shall be given by the Secretary by mail to every 
member of the Society at his last recorded address. 



Section 4. The place of meetiugs of the Society shall be determined 
by a majority vote of members present and voting at the annual or stated 
meeting and in case such determination shall not be made, the Standing 
Committee shall designate the place. 

ARTICLE III. 

QUORUM. 

Five (5) members shall constitute a quorum of the Society ; but a 
smaller number present at any annual meeting, stated meeting, or special 
meeting shall have power to meet for the purpose of having the proceedings 
and reports read, accepting the same for future action, and formally 
adjourning. 

ARTICLE IV. 

STANDING COMMITTEE. 

Section i. The Standing Committee .shall consist of the five officers 
and four members of the Society, to be elected annually on July 4, and hold 
office until their successors are duly elected and qualify. 

Section 2. The Standing Committee shall have charge of the welfare 
and general concerns of the Society as well as all other matters committed 
to it. It shall hold meetings at such times and places as it may determine, 
but at least once a year. It shall, from the income of the Permanent Fund 
of the Society, aflord relief to members or their families or descendants of 
deceased members whom it may deem worthy, subject in this respect to such 
limitations or directions as the Society at any meeting may from time to 
time resolve. It shall consider all applications for admission to the Society 
and recommend the election of such applicant as it deems entitled and 
worthy. It shall make a written report to the Society at each annual meet- 
ing on July 4th of all applications for membership, whether approved or 
disapproved, for such final action in each case as the Society may determine. 
It shall appoint annually a sub-committee of three of its members to examine 
the Treasurer's accounts and make report thereon to the Society at its 
annual meeting on July 4th. It shall keep a record of its proceedings, 
which shall be open to inspection by any member of the Society, and shall 
be read, if desired, to the Society at its annual meeting on July 4th, or its 
stated meeting on May loth, and be subject to such action as the Society 
may decide. It shall see that the Treasurer's bond is sufficient, and direct 
him in the exchange, sale or purchase of stocks, bonds or other securities of 
the Society. Grant orders on the Treasurer for the payment of such 
expenses and accounts as are not otherwise authorized by the Society. 
Appoint proper persons from among the members to fill any offices or places 
which shall become vacant by death, resignation or otherwise, such appoint- 



ments to continue until the office or place be filled by the Society at an 
annual meeting on July 4th. But should the delegate who has been desig- 
nated a member of the General Society Committee on Nominations of Gen- 
eral Officers, fail to attend the meeting of the General Society, the remain- 
ing delegates shall select one of their number to serve on that Committee. 
Three (3) members of the Standing Committee shall constitute a quorum at 
any meeting of the Committee for the transaction of ordinary business, but 
no appropriation of money shall be made unless five (5) members be present. 

Section 3. Special meetings of the Standing Committee may be called 
at any time by direction of the President, or shall be called upon the request 
in writing of three (3) members thereof, of which at least ten (10) days' 
notice shall be given by the Secretary. 

ARTICLE V. 

NOMINATING COMMITTEE. 

Section i. A committee of three (3) members shall be balloted for 
and elected at the Annual Stated Meeting on May loth, to serve for the 
ensuing year, whose duty it shall be, upon the call of its Chairman, to con- 
vene and nominate a ticket for the respective offices of the Society, including 
the Officers, Chaplain, Assistant to the Secretary, Standing Committee, 
Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, member of the Standing 
Executive Committee of the General Society, member of General Society 
Committee on Nominations of General Officers, and Trustees, to be balloted 
for at the next annual meeting of the Society on Juh' 4th. 

Section 2. The Nomijiating Committee elected at the Special Meeting 
of the Society on December 15, 1905, are to make nominations to be voted 
on at the Annual Meeting on July 4, 1906. 

Section 3. The report of the ticket nominated must be made to the 
Secretary of the Society not later than six (6) weeks before the Annual 
Meeting and shall be taken as the report of the Nominating Committee 
which shall thereupon be considered discharged. 

Section 4. Such nominations by the Committee' shall not preclude 
any member or members of the Society from proposing and offering any 
ticket they, or any of them, may desire. The nominations may be made at 
the Annual Meeting or to the Secretary not later than six (6) weeks in 
advance of the Annual Meeting. 

Section 5. Upon receipt of all nominations six (6) weeks in advance 
of the Annual Meeting the Secretary of the Society shall print and mail the 
same to each member of the Society at least one month before every Annual 
Meeting, making a separate list of each ticket nominated and stating names 
of Committee or individuals making each nomination.^ 



^Section 6. The offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, 
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, and the places of Assistant to the Secre- 
tary, Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, and member of 
General Society Committee on nominations of General Officers, shall not be 
filled by members of this Society who may at the time be General Officers 
of the General Society of the Cincinnati, but General Officers may, however, 
when duly elected, hold the positions or places in this Society of Chaplain, 
member of Standing Committee, member of Standing Executive Committee 
of General Society and Trustee. 

ARTICLE VI. 

SPECIAL COMMITTEES. 

Section i. All .special Committees shall be appointed by the Presi- 
dent, and in his absence by the Vice-President or the Chairman /;•(? /««, 
except where a motion is made at a meeting of the Society in which the 
members of the Committee are named. 

Section 2. In all cases, however, the member of the Society who 
makes a motion calling for the appointment of a special Committee, shall be 
made a member of such Committee and shall be its Chairman. 

ARTICLE VII. 

method of election. 

Section i. The election of officers of this Society, of the Chaplain, of 
the Assistant to the Secretary, the members of the Standing Committee, the 
Delegates and Alternates to the General Society, the member of the Stand- 
ing Executive Committee of the General Society, the member of the General 
Society Committee on Nominations of General Officers, the Trustees and the 
Nominating Committee, shall be by ballot, and the persons having the 
largest number of votes cast for the respective offices and places shall be 
elected. 

Section 2. No member shall be eligible as an officer, or as Chaplain, 
or as Assistant to the Secretary, or as a member of the Standing Committee, 
or as a Delegate or Alternate to the General Society, or as a member of the 
Standing Executive Committee of the General Society, or as a member of 
the General Society Committee on Nominations of General Officers, or as a 
Trustee or as a member of the Nominating Committee, unless he shall have 
been a member of this Society at least three (3) years. 



* NOTK.— This By-Law is made with the view of stimulating aud promoting the interest of the 
members of the Virginia Cincinnati in the Cincinnati Society generally, and to obviate the necessity and 
practice of one member of the Society holding several important offices therein at any one time and to 
encourage and facilitate the distribution of offices among the Virginia members of the Cincinnati 
Society. 



Section 3. The vote upon the admission of new members (hereditary 
and honorary) shall also in all cases be by ballot. Two (2) negative votes 
will reject any applicant for membership. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 

Section i. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society 
and of the Standing Committee, and shall preserve order in the course of the 
proceedings, in accordance with Parliamentary Law. 

Section 2. In the absence of the President the Vice-President shall 
preside ; if both the President and the Vice-President be absent, the meeting 
shall elect a Chairman pro tempore. 

ARTICLE IX. 

SECRETARY. 

Section i. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of 
the Society and of the Standing Committee, and shall have the cu.stody of 
the books, papers and records belonging to the Society, which shall be 
subject to the inspection of any member of the Society at reasonable times. 
He shall have the custody of the seal, diplomas, diploma plate, dies, badges 
and ribbon of the Society. He shall keep a full and complete roll of 
members, showing date elected, full name and address, date notified of 
election, and full name, rank and services of each propositus. 

Section 2. He shall within sixty (60) days after each annual meet- 
ing on July 4th print and mail to each member of the Society to his recorded 
direction a copy of the Treasurer's Annual Report as presented to such 
Annual Meeting. 

Section 3. _ He shall give at least fifteen (15) days' notice of time and 
place of all meetings of the Society. 

Section 4. He shall promptly notify all qualified and accepted candi- 
dates of their election to membership. , 

ARTICLE X. 

assistant to the secretary. 

Section l. He shall assist the Secretary in the performance of such 
duties of that office as the Secretary may from time to time devolve upon 
him. 

Section 2. He .shall within sixty days following every annual meet- 
ing on July 4th print and mail to each member of the Society, a list of 
deceased members and of those who for any reason have ceased to be mem- 



bers of this Society, anil a list of ttiose wlio are members of the Society, 
with full name and rank of propositus iti each case, including those elected 
at the last preceding annual meeting, with their respective directions, and a 
list of all those who have been elected members and who have not qualified, 
with their respective directions and dates of election. 

Section 3. He shall keep a book in which shall be recorded the date 
and place of birth of every member and such other facts concerning his 
family, civil and military history as may enable a proper biographical sketch 
to be prepared. He shall also keep a carefully prepared necrological list. 

Section 4. In case of the absence of the Secretary, or his inability 
for any cause to act in that capacity, the duties of the office .shall devolve 
upon the Assistant to the Secretary, under the direction of the Standing 
Committee, until the Secretary shall return or the inability cease. 

ARTICLE XI. 

TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER. 

Section i . The Treasurer shall receive all moneys belonging to the 
Society arising from the interest or income of the Society's funds, or other 
sources of revenue. He shall keep an account with some Bank or Trust 
Company, or both, in the City of Richmond, Va., in which he shall deposit 
all moneys so received by him on account of the Societ}', in the name and to 
the credit of "The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia," 
subject to draft bj- check signed by the Treasurer of the Society. He shall 
keep regular accounts, and submit them to the inspection of the Standing 
Committee whenever asked by it, or any member thereof, to do so. He 
shall present an annual report and account of all moneys received and paid 
out by him during the year, and shall submit the same, together with the 
vouchers for his payments, to the Auditing Committee, to be appointed by 
the Standing Committee, in time for the same to be examined by them, and 
to be presented to the Society, at the annual meeting on July 4th. He shall 
not pay out any money belonging to the Society, unless upon the warrant or 
order of the Standing Committee or upon the order of the Society at an 
annual, stated or special meeting. 

Section 2. He shall so far as possible separate and preser\^e distinct 
so much of the funds of the Society as represent the amount assessed against 
each member, representing the one month's pay delivered to the Treasurer 
of the State Society bj' the original members, together with all donations 
made to this fund " for the express purpose of forming permanent funds for 
the use of the State Society," from that portion received from other sources. 
These funds shall remain inviolate forever, "the interest only of which, if 
necessary, to be appropriated to the relief of the unfortunate" members of 
the Society and their surviving families, by direction of the Society or the 



Standing Committee. If appropriations for relief do not demand the full 
amount of the annual interest, so much of the remainder as is needed may 
be used for the general expenses of the Society, after which any balance still 
remaining shall be disposed of as the Society or the Standing Committee 
may deem proper. 

Section 3. The Treasurer shall give such security for the faithful 
performance of his duty as the Society may require, and in the absence of 
its action in the premises, the Standing Committee may fix the amount of 
security to be given. 

Section 4. The Assistant Treasurer may perform such of the above 
duties as the Treasurer may devolve upon him, but not to take charge of 
the deposits or investments — collection or receipt of money and securities 
without first giving security in the same manner as the Treasurer. 

Section 5. In case of the absence of the Treasurer or his inability 
from any cause to act in that capacity, the duties of the ofiBce shall devolve 
upon the Assistant Treasurer under the direction of the Standing Committee, 
after he has given securitj' in the same manner as the Treasurer, until the 
Treasurer shall return or the inability cea.se. 

ARTICIvE XII. 

delegates and alternates. 

Section i. At each annual meeting, on July 4th, there shall be elected 
five (5) Delegates and five (5) Alternates to represent the Society at any 
meeting of the General Society which may be held during the ensuing year. 

Section 2. The expenses of Delegates to the General Society, and of 
Alternates, when serving as Delegates, shall be borne by the Society. 

Section 3. In case of the death, resignation, or inability to serve of 
any Delegate or Alternate to the General Society between the annual meet- 
ings of the Society, the Standing Committee shall fill such vacancy or 
vacancies when necessary to complete the representation of the Society for 
any meeting of the General Society. 

m 

ARTICLE XIII. 

ADMISSION OF MEMBERS. 

Section i. All applications for admission shall be in writing in the 
form and manner prescribed by the Society, addressed to the Standing Com- 
mittee which may require any proof which it may deem proper in support of 
such application or any testimonial with respect to the character and stand- 
ing of the applicant. The Standing Committee shall consider and report in 
writing upon each application to the Society at its annual meeting, with all 



8 

facts ill each case. No application after adverse decision by the Standing 
Committee, shall be allowed to be withdrawn. No person .shall be admitted 
as a member unless he shall be twent)'-one j'ears of age, nor unless his claim 
and application for admission shall have been before the vStanding Committee 
at least two mouths prior to the annual meeting, at which he may be voted 
for as a member. 

Section 2. No person shall be admitted a member of the Society 
(whatever may be his relation to an original or other member of the Society), 
unless he be of good moral character and reputation and be (as required by 
the Institution) "judged worthy of becoming its supporter and member." 

Section 3. This Society will "judge of the qualifications of the mem- 
bers who may be proposed" according to the qualifications prescribed by 
the Institutiou, as follows, under the English law of primogeniture. 

(a) The eldest male lineal descendant of "all officers of the American 
Army, as well as tho.se .who have resigned with honor after three years' 
service in the capacity of officers, or who have been deranged by resolution 
of Congress upon the several reforms of the Army, as those who shall have 
continued to the end of the War" who "subscribed one month's pay and 
signed their names to the general rules," "those who are present with the 
Army immediately, and others within six months after the Army shall be 
disbanded, extraordinary cases excepted," and "such officers as have died 
iu the service." 

(6) With respect to "officers who resigned with honor after three 
years' service in the capacity of officers," when all or a portion of such 
service was performed as a Commissioned Officer in any of the Virginia 
troops specially raised for considerable periods of .service, and takeu on the 
Continental Establishment, such portion of service is construed as intended 
to be embraced in the designated period. (See opinion of General vSociety, 
13th May, 1784.) 

(c) With respect to the dates referred to in " Sec. 3," paragraph "a," 
the following are accepted by this Society as the official dates for the 
purposes of these By-Laws : 

"American War of Independence " ran from April 19, 1775, to Decem- 
ber 3, 1783, which latter date was final evacuation of Atlantic ports, when 
Governor's Lsland, New York Harbor, was formally relinquished. " End 
of War" officially declared to be on April 19, 1783, per General orders 
dated Army Headquarters, Newburgh, April 18, 1783. Institutiou of the 
Society of the Cincinnati, adopted May 10 and 13 and June 19, 1783. 
American Army finally disbanded June 20, 1784. 

(d) With respect to the words " extraordinary cases excepted," em- 
bodied in the Original Institution in connection with the rules for admission 
of members, the same are hereby accepted by this Society to apply only 
(in the true meaning and intent of the Founders of the Order) to certain 



isolated and special cases that may come up from time to time, and which 
are to be judged separately in each case on their particular merits alone ; and 
the words "extraordinary cases excepted " are in no sense to be construed, 
under the Original Institution, as applying, or as intended to apply, to all 
the officers of the entire Revolutionary Army regardless of the fact whether 
or not those officers became members of the Cincinnati Society. 

(<?) The eldest male lineal descendent of "those officers who are 
foreigners, not resident in any of the States, are to be considered as members 
m the Societies of any of the States in which they may happen to reside." 
(y) In failure of the eldest male Hneal posterity of original members as 
above, or of "such officers as have died in the service," the collateral 
branches shall inherit membership in the Society in the order of the eldest 
male line according to the English law of primogeniture "who may be 
judged worthy of becoming its supporters and members." 

ig') In all cases of representation or succession through females the 
eldest branch shall be preferred to the younger. 

lyli) When a right of membership, derived from an original member or 
other officer, shall descend in succession to one already a member in another 
and a different right, the one next after him in the order of descent from the 
first-named right may be admitted to membership in the Society if "judged 
worthy of becoming its supporter and member. ' ' 

(0 The eldest male descendant of full age, if residing in the State of 
Virginia, of an original member of any State Society, may be admitted into 
this Society (if judged worthy) upon the payment of such assessment as the 
Society or the Standing Committee may determine, but such sum shall not 
be less than $150, and shall be applied to the Permanent Fund. 

(7) Any member of the Society of the Cincinnati, from another State 
Society not acting with the same, removing to, and residing within the State 
of Virginia, may be admitted to membership in this State Society on applica- 
tion and election as provided in these By-Laws and on payment into the 
treasury for the Permanent Fund of such assessment as the Society or the 
Standing Committee may determine, but such sum shall not be less than 
$150, and provided his own State Society is first notified in writing of the 
intended transfer and no reasonable objection is made thereto. 

{k) Whenever any person shall be admitted to the right to become a 
member of the Society, it shall be the duty of the Secretary forthwith to 
give him notice thereof, and the person thus admitted must immediately 
thereupon subscribe the roll and pay whatever may be required by the rules 
and regulations, By-Laws, order of the Society or the Standing Committee, 
and make in writing, the following " Declaration," viz.: 

Member's Declaration. 
I ,of 

a member elect of the Society of the Cincinnati, do declare that I am' 
the of 



lO 

whose full rank and command (or in case of honorary members, military 
or civil services are to be here stated) in the War of the Revolution was 

, and I do hereby assume the obli- 
gations of the Society of the Cincinnati, and do bind myself to observe 
and be governed by its principals and to conform to the Rules and Regu- 
lations of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Virginia for the 
performance whereof I do pledge my sacred honor. 

In Testimony Whereof, I, have hereunto subscribed my name 
at this the 

day of , in the year of our Lord 

[seal.] one thousand nine hundred and , and 

in the one hundred and year of the 

Independence of the United States. 



And in case he neglect so to do for the space of one year from the date 
of the vote or election admitting him to the right to become a member, such 
vote or election shall be, and be deemed and held to be, revoked, annulled, 
inoperative, and entirely void, and he shall not thereafter be entitled to sub- 
scribe the roll, or be considered in any way as a member of the Society or 
entitled to become such, unless upon a new application for admission, he 
shall again be admitted to such right, or unless by a vote of a majority of 
the members present at the annual meeting of the Society, the time be 
extended before or at the time it would otherwise expire. 

(/) Waivers shall be accepted when they are in favor of the heir 
apparent, but never in favor of the heir presumptive. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

HONORARY MEMBERS. 

Section i . Honorary members may be admitted to the Society for 
their own lives only, and provided always that the number of honorary 
members of the Society shall not exceed a ratio of one to four of the here- 
ditary members thereof. 

vSection 2. Honorary members shall consist of two classes as follows : 

(rt) " Men in the country eminent for their abilities and patriotism, 
whose views may be directed to the same laudable objects with those of the 
Cincinnati." Such honorary members shall not be called on to pay the 
assessment to the permanent fund, have any title to any portion of the funds, 
nor are they entitled to vote or eligible to any office. 

{b) "Men who are eminent lineal descendants or representatives of 
those who were distinguished by high military or civil virtues and services 
in the Revolutionary War." Such honorary members shall pay into 
the treasury of the Society for the permanent fund, under the rules pre- 



scribed in Article XV., a sum to be fixed by the Society or Standing Com- 
mittee, but in no case to be less than $150, and shall be entitled to vote and 
hold office in the Society under the provisions of these By-Laws. 

ARTICLE XV. 

ASSESSMENTS FOR PERMANENT FUND. 

Section i. Each person upon being notified by the Secretary of his 
election to hereditary or honorary (Art. XIV., Sec. 2, par. b) membership, 
shall pay into the treasury of the Society, for the Permanent Fund, within 
six mouths after such notification is mailed, a sum equal, at least, to an 
average of one month's pay of the commissioned officers of the Revolutionary 
Army, which sum is hereby fixed at $150. This amount shall not be less 
than $150, but may be increased for new members from time to time by the 
Society at any annual or stated meeting. 

Section 2. In its discretion and for satisfactory reasons the Society 
or the Standing Committee may extend the time for paying the above 
assessment to the Permanent Fund. 

Section 3. After the prescribed assessment to the Permanent Fund 
has been paid by a member, there shall be no further assessments against 
him or his successors. 

ARTICLE XVI. 

PRINCIPLES OF INSTITUTION TO BE READ. 

Section i. At either the annual or the stated meeting there shall be 
read the Principles of the Institution of the Society of the Cincinnati, as 
adopted by the Continental regular officers at the Cantonment of the Amer- 
ican Army on the Hudson River on the loth and 13th days of May, and 
19th day of June, 1783. 

Section 2. The Declaration of Independence may then be read and 
an appropriate Oration delivered. 

Section 3. The Society may designate the Reader of the Declaration 
of Independence and the Orator of the occasion, and in lieu thereof the 
Standing Committee may do so. The "Reader" and the "Orator" need 
not necessarily be members of the Society. 

ARTICLE XVII. 

MEMBERS TO DINE TOGETHER ANNUALLY. 

Section i . The members of the Society shall dine together on the day 
of the Annual Meeting, July 4th, or the Stated Meeting, May loth, in com- 



12 

memoratiou of the Revolutionary Contest for Independence and the services 
of the regular Continental Line, and Staff of the American Army and Navy, 
and their Allies during that war. 

Section 2. Members of other State Societies of the Cincinnati or 
foreign members, shall be entitled to participate in this commemoration and 
persons of distinction may be invited by the Society, or in lieu thereof, by 
the Standing Committee. 

Section 3. The oldest .son of each member shall be entitled to be 
present. 

ARTICLE XYIII. 

MEMBERS' FUNERALS. 

Section i. On the death of any member whatever of the Cincinnati 
which may occur in Virginia, the Secretary shall announce the same in one 
or more newspapers of Richmond, Va., and by other sufficient notice, pro- 
vided the fact is made known to him in time, invite the members of this 
vSociety to attend the obsequies, and designating the place and hour at 
which they are to assemble. 

Section 2. The procession is to be headed by the President and Vice- 
President, the other members to form two and two, all wearing the insignia 
of the Order, and customary badge of mourning. 

Section 3. If agreeable to the family of the deceased the cofiBn will 
be draped with the United States flag and the Society of the Cincinnati flag, 
and the pall supported by six members of the Society. 

ARTICLE XIX. 

EXPULSION. 

Section i. Should any member of the Society be impeached for 
conduct inconsistent with that of a gentleman or man of honor, or by an 
opposition to the interests of the community in general or the Society in 
particular, may render himself unworthy to continue as a member, charges 
in writing can be preferred against him when signed by not less than two 
members. Such charges may be brought up at any regular meeting or a 
special meeting when called for that purpose. 

Section 2. By re.solution of a majority of the members present at such 
meeting as above, a committee of three or more members shall be appointed 
to inquire into and substantiate the facts, with all additional information 
respecting the conduct of the accused member as may come up in the course 
of their investigation, and this Committee shall make a full report in writing 
to the next meeting of the Society, at which a three- filths vote shall decide 
as to the expulsion or acquittal of the person so accused. The accused 
person not to vote in each instance. 



13 

Section 3. On the expulsion of any member, his name or appellation, 
together with his profession or vocation, and place of residence, shall be 
transmitted to the several State Societies. 

ARTICLE XX. 

TRANSACTIONS, MATTERS OF CONFIDENCE. 

The members of the Society shall be considered bound in honor to keep 
secret any matter offered in debate, or any individual opinion expressed, 
respecting the admission, election or expulsion of a member. 

ARTICLE XXL 

MOTIONS. 

Motions made at meetings of the Society and of the Standing Committee 
shall not be entertained unless the same be seconded. The name of mover 
and seconder need not be entered upon the minutes, unless desired by a 
member, in which case it shall be done. All motions shall be submitted in 
writing when desired by any member. 

ARTICLE XXII. 

INVESTMENTS — TRUSTEES. 

Section i. All investments of the funds of the Society shall be in the 
names of three (3) Trustees, and of the survivors of them as joint tenants. 

Section 2. These three (3) Trustees are to be elected by the Society 
annually on July 4th for the term of one year, and are to hold office until 
their successors are duly elected and qualify. 

Section 3. Whenever a vacancy shall occur in the office of any such 
Trustee, the place shall be filled by the Society at its next annual meeting ; 
but if at any time there be two vacancies, it .shall be the duty of the 
Standing Committee forthwith to fill the same, which appointments shall be 
valid until others are elected in their place by the Society. 

Section 4. Immediately upon the election of ai;j' new Trustee or 
Trustees, all the investments of the Society's funds shall be transferred to 
the joint names of the then existing Trustees as joint tenants. 

ARTICLE XXIII. 

order of the society. 

Section i. The order of the Cincinnati Society and the manner of 
wearing it is hereby declared to be the same as adopted by the Founders of 
the Society, on the 19th day of June, 1783, in the following words: 
"Resolved, that the bald eagle, carrying the emblems on its breast, be 



14 

established as the order of the Society, and that the ideas of Major L'Enfant 
respecting it and the manner of its being worn by the members, be adopted. 
That the order be of the same size, and in every other respect comformable to 
the said design, which for that purpose is certified by the Baron de Steuben, 
President of the Convention, and to be deposited in the archives of the 
Society, as the original, from which all copies are to be made." 

Section 2. The manner of wearing the order is to conform as nearly 
as possible to Major L'Enfant's ideas as set forth in the institution. 

Section 3. Nothing in Sections i and 2 is designed to interfere 
with the use of existing Eagles now posses.sed by members of this Society 
(many of which may have been handed down from original members), but is 
intended to define the kind of Eagles that are to be furnished new members 
in the future. 

Section 4. The Order of the Society shall be worn on all occasions of 
duty or ceremony where this Society or its members as Cincinnati shall par- 
ticipate, as well as at the meetings of this Society. On other than official 
occasions as Cincinnati, the members of this Society may wear on the left 
lapel of their coat the prescribed ribbon of the Order, or in lieu thereof may 
wear in a similar manner, a Rosette or Stafford knot of the prescribed ribbon, 
but narrower pattern. 

Section 5. The Order shall never be worn as au article of jewelry. 

ARTICLE XXIV. 

diploma. 

vSection I. Each member, upon his election and qualification as such, 
shall be entitled to receive a diploma or certificate of membership engraved 
on parchment, to be signed by the President of the Society and counter- 
signed by the Secretary, for which he shall pay the Treasurer the sum of 
five dollars. The fee thus paid shall be for the use of the Society and be 
considered a part of the revenue for the current year. 

Section 2. The form and wording of the diploma shall be as follows, 
with design similar to the original diploma issued by the General Society : 

THE SOCIETY OF THE CINCINNATI IN THE STATE OF 

VIRGINIA. 
Greeting : 

Be it known. That 
the of , 

whose service in the War of the Revolution was 

is, by virtue of a resolution of 

the Society of the Cinciiniati in the State of Virginia, passed on the 

day of , 19 , 



15 
a duly admitted member of the 

(Hereditan- or Honoraiy) 

Society of the Cincinnati, instituted by the officers of the American 
Army of the Revolution at the period of its dissolution in 1783, as well 
to commemorate the great event which gave Independence to the United 
States of America, as for the laudable purpose of inculcating the 
Duty of laying down in Peace arms assumed for public defense, and 
uniting in acts of brothery Affection and Bonds of perpetual Friendship 
the members constituting the same. 

In Testimony Whereof, the Society of the Cincinnati in 

the State of Virginia has caused these Presents to 

be signed by its President, countersigned by its 

Secretary, and the seal of the Society to be affixed at 

[seal.] Richmond, in the State of Virginia, this 

day of , in the year of our 

Lord, One Thousand Nine Hundred and , 

and in the One Hundred and Year 

of the Independence of the X/nited States. 

By order 



President. 



Secretary. 
ARTICLE XXV. 

SEAL. 

Section i. The Society shall have a Seal two inches in diameter and 
which shall comprise thereon the insignia of the Order, viz. : An eagle dis- 
played, bearing on its breast the obverse of the medal of the Society ; around 
this the words ''Omnia Rcliquit Scrvare Rcinpiib/icain." Above, thirteen 
stars in a semicircle ; beneath, on a scroll, the motto of the Society, " Esto 
Perpetua." Round the whole, the legend "Society of the Cincinnati in the 
State of Virginia, Instituted 1783." 

Section 2. Whenever documents and proceedings of the Society 
require to be duly authenticated they shall be signed by the President, or 
Vice-President in his absence, and attested by the Secretary or the assistant 
to the Secretary, and the seal of the Society shall be affixed. 

ARTICLE XXVI. 

SUSPENSION OF BY-LAWS. 

These By-Laws may be suspended only at an annual or stated meeting 
of the Society by the unanimous consent of all the members present. 



i6 

ARTICLE XXVII. 

AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS. 

These By-L,aws may be altered or amended, or a new By-Law made only 
by consent of three-quarters of the members present at any meeting of the 
Society, the call for which shall state the substance of the alterations, amend- 
ments or new By-Laws proposed, and be mailed to each member of the 
Society at his last recorded address by registered mail not later than one 
month before the meeting. 

ARTICLE XXVIII. 

ORDER OF BUSINESS. 

1. Roll Call. Secretary may call the roll. 

2. Prayer by Chaplain. 

3. Reading Minutes of previous meetings, also of Standing Committee. 

4. Reading the Principals of the Institution. 

5. Communications. 

6. Reports. 

1. Officers. 

2. Standing Committee. 

3. Special Committees. 

4. Applications for Membership. 

7. Election of Members. 

8. Nominations and election of Officers, Chaplain, Assistant to 

Secretary, Standing Committee, Delegates and Alternates to 
the General Society, Member of the Standing Executive Com- 
mittee of the General Society, Member of the Committee 
on Nominations of General Officers in the General Society, 
Trustees, Nominating Committee, 
g. Stated Business. 

10. Unfinished Business. 

1 1. New Business. 

12. Adjournment. 

ARTICLE XXIX. 

TIME OF MEETINGS. 

Whenever the Society or Standing Committee shall not have designated 
the hour for assembly at any annual, stated, or special meeting, it shall be 
held at 12 o'clock, noon, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and in default 
of naming a place, it .shall be held in the Cit)' of Richmond, Va. 



